Former Eagle, Sterling fire chief pleads guilty to theft, misconduct charges; faces max of 8 years

LOGAN COUNTY, Colo. – The former Sterling and Eagle fire chief arrested and fired in August for stealing $120,000 from Sterling pleaded guilty last week to theft and official misconduct charges.

Kurt Vogel was most-recently the chief of the Greater Eagle Fire Protection District after he spent nearly seven years as the head of the Sterling Fire Department.

But he was fired by Eagle County after he and his wife, Hope, were arrested in August on suspicion of theft, attempting to influence a public servant, official misconduct and forgery charges.

Vogel allegedly took firefighting equipment from the city as well. He and his wife allegedly took funds meant for the fire department and put it into their own bank accounts.

Vogel pleaded guilty on Thursday to theft over $20,000 and felony official misconduct charges, and the rest of his charges were dropped, according to The Denver Post.

Hope Vogel’s case remains ongoing. Kurt Vogel is set to be sentenced on Feb. 8, 2017 and faces a maximum eight years in prison, according to The Post.

Calls to the 13th Judicial District Attorney’s Office from Denver7 seeking comment went unreturned Monday.